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JFI Week in Review 7/22-7/26/19
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Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.
Elimination of U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program "Against the Principles We Have
as a Nation" Says Chair of USCCB's Committee on Migration
On July 18, 2019, it was reported [[link removed]]
that some officials in the Administration were calling to zero out the refugee resettlement
program. In response, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, and Chairman of the
USCCB Committee on Migration, issued a statement [[link removed]]
condemning the proposed zeroing out of the program and called for a return to the
normal historical goal of admitting 95,000 refugees annually.
Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), a coalition of which USCCB is a member, also condemned
the proposed reduction and issued a statement [[link removed]]
in response and called for returning the program to its historical norms. Bill Canny,
RCUSA Chair and Executive Director for USCCB's Migration and Refugee Services, noted:
"There continue to be refugees who need the protection that resettlement provides,
including refugees who are fleeing religious persecution. Faith based communities
and volunteers across the U.S. have the desire, capacity, and resources to return
to at least our historically normal level of welcoming refugees."
RCUSA followed up with a press briefing [[link removed]]
on July 22, 2019, during which issue experts, advocates, and a former refugee responded
[[link removed]]
to the reported proposal.
Asylum Update
The Administration issued an asylum regulation [[link removed]]
last week that would bar virtually anyone from asylum who had entered or was attempting
to enter the United States' southern border with Mexico if they failed to apply
for asylum in a country they had transited through. The U.S. District Court of the
District of Columbia denied advocates' request for a restraining order to stop the
rule's implementation; however, the U.S. District of Northern California (San Francisco)
issued a nationwide preliminary injunction [[link removed]]
in the case of East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v William Barr, and thereby temporarily
halted the implementation of the regulation.
On July 16, 2019, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, released a statement [[link removed]]
on the interim final rule, stating that "the Administration's new rule on asylum
eligibility presents a similar enforcement-only immigration approach. The rule
adds further barriers to asylum-seekers' ability to access life-saving protection,
shirks our moral duty, and will prevent the United States from taking its usual
leading role in the international community as a provider of asylum protection."
Included in this statement, Cardinal Dinardo also commented on reports [[link removed]]
that the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) planned to arrest thousands of migrant families
who have court orders to be removed. The Cardinal asserted that "enforcement actions
like those anticipated this week by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency
separate families, cause the unacceptable suffering of thousands of children and
their parents, and create widespread panic in our communities. I condemn such an
approach...".
Chair of USCCB Committee on Migration Calls for Reversal of the Expansion of Expedited
Removal, Cites Family Separation and Lack of Due Process Among Concerns
On July 23, 2019, DHS revised and expanded [[link removed]]
its controversial fast-track removal or "expedited removal" policy, enabling immigration
enforcement officers to expedite the deportation of immigrants who are suspected
of being undocumented and cannot prove two years of physical presence in the United
States. This change is effective immediately.
Responding to the expanded use of expedited removal, Bishop Vásquez issued a statement
[[link removed]]
calling on DHS to reverse its decision to expand the policy. In addition to noting
the family separation and fear that this policy will cause, Bishop Vásquez explained:
"This action is yet another escalation of this Administration's enforcement-only
immigration approach, and it will have terrible human consequences. The new policy
will allow for the deportation of many more individuals without providing them an
opportunity to seek legal counsel and have a hearing before an immigration judge."
Federal Budget and Appropriations Update
Congress and the Administration have reportedly reached an agreement [[link removed]]
that would address the problem of federal spending exceeding the debt ceiling through
July 21, 2021. They also agreed to raise the budget caps on defense and non-defense
discretionary spending levels for two years. On Thursday, July 25, 2019 the House
passed the bipartisan measure 284-149, and the Senate is likely to vote on the measure
before their recess [[link removed]].
Enacting the debt ceiling measure would maintain the U.S. full faith and credit
for that period and raising the budget caps would enable the U.S. to spend $320
billion in additional discretionary funds, and avoid sequestration being triggered,
which would impose automatic cuts across spending accounts.
With the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2019, Congress will have three choices
when they return from August recess: pass the twelve FY2020 appropriations bills,
pass a continuing resolution for any unpassed bills (thereby continuing spending
at FY2019 levels), or close the government operations for the activities funded
by any unpassed bills.
JFI Webinar: What We Saw and Experienced in Central America
Please join us for a webinar where JFI Core Members who took part in a delegation
to Central America will share their insights on the trip and report on the migration
situation that is currently ongoing in the region. The webinar will be hosted on
Wednesday, July 31st at 2PM Eastern. Please find more information below on the
webinar flyer.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities

* Immigration Walk-In Consultation - July 27, 2019 at 9 AM in Chicago: The Resurrection
Project is holding its next immigration consultation [[link removed]]
on Saturday, July 27th at 1805 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL. You can speak with
an attorney or DOJ-accredited representative at this event, which is open to the
public and available in both Spanish and English.
* From Save the Children: U.S Mexico-Border Twitter Chat - August 6, 2019 at 2 PM
ET: Join Save the Children (@SavetheChildren), the American Immigration Lawyers
Association (@AILANational) and American Immigration Council (@immcouncil) in a
Twitter Chat to learn more about their work to ensure the well-being of children
in family detention centers. Use the Hashtag: #HarmInDetention [[link removed]]
* St. James Cathedral Summer Film Series: Homeboy Joy Ride - August 6, 2019 at 6:30
PM in Seattle: The Archdiocese of Seattle's Office of Social Outreach & Advocacy
is holding a free screening of Homeboy Joy Ride at 907 Columbia St, Seattle, WA.
This documentary explores the work of Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. and his effort to provide
work skills to high-risk and former gang members and keep them out of the criminal
justice system. Call Patrick Barredo, 206-382-4515, for more information.

* Theology on Tap: Q&A with the Archbishop - August 13, 2019 at 6 PM in Washington,
DC: Young professionals are invited to the Archdiocese of Washington's (ADW) next
Theology on Tap event at 1330 19th St. NW in Washington for a conversation with
Archbishop Wilton Gregory. Contact [[link removed]]
the ADW's Office of Young Adult Ministry for more information. All are welcome!

* ONGOING: Weekly Prayer Vigils at the Broadview, IL Immigration Processing Center
- Every Friday at 7 AM: On Friday mornings, join in a prayer vigil [[link removed]]
at the immigration processing center (1930 Beach St, Broadview) to provide public
witness and accompaniment to immigrants about to be deported. An interfaith prayer
service is held on the first Friday of every month, and the Rosary is prayed on
the remaining Fridays. No special training or advance notice is needed to participate
in the prayer vigil.
In Solidarity,
Tony Cube
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3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, DC 20017
Phone: (202) 541-3064 Fax: (202) 722-8711
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